Pallet feeding device



March 7, 1933.

C. E. WALKER PALLET FEEDING DEVICE Filed Nov. 6, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet; 1

3mm Charles E'- vIVaIZ/FEJ' 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 c. E. WALKER Filed Nov. 6,1950 PALLET FEEDING DEvI cE Q. a mw mw I IN IM IH H HHHHUMHH Hw n March7, 1933.

March'7,1933. Q WALK R- 1,900,625

PALLET FEEDING DEVICE Filed Nov. 6, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 uuultimnm "mlharZes .EQ ell/(1'31" March 7, 1933. c, E WALKER 1,900,625

PALLET FEEDING DEVICE Filed Nov. 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 gwventoz ChariesE. WaZ/(Zer A March c. E. WALKER PALLET FEEDING DEVICE iled Nov. 6, 1950s Sheets-Sheet 5 Charles- E'. Walllr Patented Mar. 7, 1933;

UNITED srAr es err Erics- CHARLES E. WALKER, or GATSKILL, NEW YORK,AssIeNoR To LANCASTER IRON woRKs, or LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA, ACORPORATION or 'rENNsYLvANiA P LLET FEEDING DEVICE -App1ication filedNovember 6, 1930. Serial No. 493,843;

The invention forming the subject matter of this application is in thenature of a semiautomatic device for feeding empty pallets to anautomatic brick machine of the general type disclosed in the U. S.Patent to Graham, #1,341,798, June 1, 1920. v

In automatic brick machines of the type mentioned, the empty palletswere placed directly upon the pallet receiving fingers at the output endof the machine by an operator whose motions had to be accurately timedwith the motions of the brickmachine. In this type of brick machine, theoperator not only has to time his movements with those of the machine,but also is compelled to place the empty pallets with extreme accuracyupon the pallet receiving fingers.

With an automatic brick machine delivering from 20 to 25 filled mouldsper minute, the operator had no time to pick up empty pallets from thereturn palletconveyor and place the pallets on the palletfingers withthe necessary degree of accuracy. It was therefore necessary for ahelper to hand the pallets, one by one, to the operator Who, in turn,positioned them on the" pallet fingers; and the motions of the helperhad to be timed with those of the operator, whose motions of course hadto be timed with those of the automatic brick machine. V

The main object of the present invention is to providea pallet feedingattachment for automatic brick machine of the type referred to, whichwill eliminate the helper in the pro er placing of the pallets toreceive the brie s from filled moulds.

Another object of the invention is to provide an attachment of thischaracter which eliminates the necessity for the placing of palletsaccurately in a predetermined position in the machine, and which afterreceiving a pallet will automatically place that pallet accurately upona mould in a predetermined position of rest in the machine. v

Other objects of the invention willbecome apparent as the detaileddescription thereof proceeds.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the apparatus as a whole, shown asattached-to the output end of an automatic brick machine of, the typedescribed above;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan View of the pallet V feeding trough part ofthe attachment shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the said attachment; V

Figure is a left hand end elevation of the attachment;

Figure 5 is a right hand the attachment;

Figure 6 is a horizontal section of a safety driving connection betweenthe pallet feeding mechanism and a driving shaft connected for endelevation of operation to a part of the automatic brick machine; a

Figure 7 is a vertical section taken on the line 7'Z of Figure 6;

a Figure 8 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 8- 8 ofFigure 1;

Figure 9' is a similar section to that shown in Figure 8 but with theparts shown in a dif ferent operative position;

Figure lOis a perspective view of a height adjusting connection betweenthe end of the pallet feeding attachment and one side of the automaticbrick machine;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary perspective of the attachment as a whole, andshowing its position relative to the output end of an automatic brickmachine; I l

Figure 12 is a side elevation of the driving mechanism for the palletfeeding attachment which is connected detachably to a rotating shaftforming part of the automatic brick machine; 7

Figure 13 is a perspective View of a pusher device connected toanendlessconveyor chain an d adapted-to move an empty pallet to apredetermined position in'the attachment;

Figure 14 is a fragmentary perspective of part of the pallet feedingattachment, illustrating the pusher device in the act of moving an emptypallet to a predetermined position in said attachment;

Figure 15 is a fragmentaryplan view of a safety drive connection betweenthe driving and driven shafts of the attachment;

Figure 16 is a vertical section taken on the line 1616 of Figure 15;

Figure 17 is a section taken on the line 17-17 of Figure 15; and

Figure 18 is a vertical section taken through a pallet stop forming partof said attachment and adjustable thereon to provide for moulds andpallets of different lengths.

As shown in the drawings, and particularly in Figures 3, 4 and 11thereof, the pallet feeding attachment comprises a standard 1 adapted tobe secured by an angle iron base 2 to a floor or platform on which theautomatic brick machine is supported. The standard comprises the legs 3and 4,. (see Figure 4), suitably bolted to a cross plate 5 which in turnis bolted to the angle iron base 2. The upper ends of the legs 3 and 4are connected by a cross plate 6. To the upper end of each leg 3 and 4and on the outer side thereof, there is pivotally connected one end of arail 7, the other end of which is pivotally connected to a brace 8;while the other end of the brace 8 is provided with a slot 9 throughwhich a clamping bolt 10 extends into the leg 3 or 4, as the case maybe. The rails 7 are secured to and support a rectangular framedesignated generally by the reference numeral 11 and constituting atrough adapted to receive empty pallets and to guide such pallets to apredetermined position relative to the automatic brick machine to whichthe attachment is secured.

The frame 11 comprises a pair of long angle iron side rails 12 and 13which are secured suitably to the rails 7, and have their flanges 14 and15 respectively extending vertically to form the side walls of the guidetrough. An angle iron plate 16 is secured to the ends of the rails 12and 13 and forms one end of the trough-like framework; while the otherends of said rails 12 and 13 are connected to each other and properlyspaced apart by a cylindrical rod 17 adapted to receive a sleeve 18 ofmechanism for vertically adjusting that end of the framework relative tothe automatic brick machine to which the attachment is connected. Angleiron cross struts 19, 20 and 21 connect the side rails between the endsthereof and serve as supports for elements of the pallet feeder to bedescribed hereafter.

A skid 22 is supported by the cross struts 19 and 20: and a pair ofskids 23 and 24 are mounted on the said cross struts and upon the centerskid 22 so as to form a depression or groove between the skids 23 and 24and form a guideway for an endless chain 25. The endless chain is meshedwith sprocket wheels 26 and 27 suitably connected to shafts 28 and 29respectively supported by the under side of the framework 11. The shaft28 is journaled in bearings 30 and 31 which are slidably mounted on rods32 and 33 carried by the end plate 16 and the vertical flange of thecross strut 19, as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. The shaft 29, (seeFigures 1 and 6), is

journaled in suitable bearings 34 and 35, depending from the undersideof the side rails 12 and 13 respectively. The chain may have its slacktaken up by adjusting the bearing sleeves and 31 on their respectiverods 32 and 33 and securing said sleeves in adjusted position by meansof the set screws 36, (see Figure 3).

The endless chain 25 carries a pusher device 37, (see Figures 13 and14), for moving a pallet along the skids 23 and 24 toward the gravityconveyor illustrated on the right, hand portion of Figure 1. This pusherdevice is constructed so 'as to insure positive movement of the palletand at the same time be flexible enough to permit the chain 25 to passfreely around the sprocket Wheels 26 and 27. As shown clearly in Figure13, the pusher device comprises a pair of side members 38 and 39, havingtheir bottom ends formed similar to the links of the conveyor chain 25and adapted to be secured to said chain by the pins which connect thelinks of said chain to each other.

The members 38 and 39 are apertured to form bearings for a shaft 40 onwhich a pusher plate 41 is pivotally mounted. Close behind the pair ofmembers 38 and 39 are the similar members 42 and 43, similarly securedto the endless chain 25. The members 42 and 43 are likewise apertured toreceive and form bearings for a shaft 43, upon which a link 44 ispivotally mounted at one end, the other end of said link 44 beingpivotally connected to the pusher plate 41 by a pivot pin 45.

It Will be apparent from Figures 1 and 3 of the drawings that when thepusher device 37 engages apallet 46, (see Figure'14), it will movethepallet along the skids 23 and 24 on to the gravity roller conveyors 47and 48. The rollers 49 of the conveyor 47 are rotatably mounted on abearing plate 50 which extends from the end of the skid 23 to the crossstrut 21. A number of these rollers 49 adjacent the skid 23 are mountedon the inner face of the plate 50 and are arranged directly opposite toan equal number of rollers 51 rotatably mounted on a short plate 52. Theplates 50 and 52 are secured by suitable brackets 53, 54, 55 and 56 tothe side rails 12 and 13. Another series of gravity rolls 57 is securedto the back face of the plate 50 and serves to support slidably a palletduring its movement along and from the oppositely disposed rolls 49 and51.

The rollers 51 terminate a sufllcient distance from the stop plate 58 topermit the end of the pallet adjacent the vertical side 15 to drop fromthe rollers 51 on to a trip plate 59 which supports one edge of thepallet until a brick mould arrives at a position of rest immediatelyunder the trip plate 59.

The trip plate 59, (see Figures 3, 8- and 9), is suitably secured to asquared shaft 60 having its opposite ends journaled in bearings 61 and62 secured to the bottom of the rail 13. One end of the shaft 60projects beyond the bearing 61 and has a trip lever 63 secured theretoand arranged to hold the shaft 60 with the trip plate 59 by gravity andnormally in a horizontal position shown in Figure 8, the said leverbeing shaped so as to provide a toe 64 thereon adapted to contact withthe lower face of the rail 13 in order to limit the rotation of theshaft 60 to a position in which the trip plate 59 is substantiallyhorizontal.

The trip lever 63 is provided with a laterally extending pin 65 arrangedin the path of movement of a pin 66, (see Figure 6) extending inwardlyfrom a trip disc 67 operated in timed relation to the movements of thebrick moulds through the automatic brick machine. In Figure 8 of thedrawings, the pallet 46 is shown in position of rest and immediatelyprior to the operation of the trip mechanism for dropping the pallet onto the mould 68.

When the trip mechanism is operated to swing the lever 63 upwardly intothe position shown in Figure 9, the trip plate 59 moves away from thesupported edge of the pallet 46 and permits it to drop directly upon themould 68 immediately below it.

The stop plate 58 is right angular in cross section and has a plateportion 69 provided with a pair of slots 70 and 71 adapted to receivethe clamping bolts 72 and 73 for holding the stop plate 58 in adjustedposition on the cross strut 21 to compensate for the differences inlength of the pallets which may be used in machines of different sizes.As previously described, the right hand end of the frame 11 may beadjusted vertically relative to the framework of the brick machine inorder to assure the gravity movement of the pallet along the gravityconveyor rollers after being pushed thereon by the pusher plate 41.

The vertical adjustment of the right hand end of the frame 11 iseffected by means of the rod 74 which depends from the sleeve 18, whichas previously described is rotatably mounted on the cross rod 17 The rod74 is slidably mounted in clamping split sleeves 7 5 and 76, of whichthe sleeve 75 is formed on a bracket 77, and the sleeve 7 6 isadjustably secured to the sleeve 75 by clamping bolt 7 8. The bracket 77 is adapted to be secured to a plate 7 9 which is preferably hinged toa fixed part of the framework of the automatic brick machine in orderthat the raising and lowering of the end of the pallet feeder may beeffected without warping or binding any of the vertical adjustingmechanism. 7

Of course it will be understood that during this vertical adjustment ofthe end of the pallet conveyor relative to the automatic brick machine,the bolts 10 in the standard 1 must be loosened in order to permit thebraces 8 to move with the side rails 12 and 13 during this adjustment.After this adjustment the bolts 10-may be clamped to secure the braceplate and the framework 11 in substantially fixed position relative tothe automatic brick machine. I V

In order to effect the operation of the pallet feeding mechanism thedriven shaft .29, (see particularly Figure 6), extends through thebearing 34, and on the projecting end thereof has a shear collar 81keyed thereon. The end of the collar 81 extends slightly beyond the endof the shaft 29 in order to receive the end of the driving shaft 82,thereby ensuring continuous and proper alignment of the shafts 29 and82.

As shown in Figures 15 and 17, the shear collar 81 has a shear plate 82of hardened steel bolted or otherwise secured to the collar 81. A shearrod 83 has one of its ends pivoted to the shear plate 82 by means of thepivot bolt 84; and the shear plate and rod are provided with apertures85 adapted to receive shear pins 86 of soft metal which will break undera given pressure and allow the shear rod 83 to swing around its pivotbolt 84.

The rotation of the driving shaft 82 is imparted to the driven shaft 29by means of the driving collar 87 which is keyed on to the driving shaft82 as shown in Figure 6. A lug 88 extends radially from the drivingcollar 87 to contact with the inner edge of the shear rod 83 and causerotation of the collar 81 and the shaft 29 when the shear pins 85 arearranged in the registering apertures formed in the shear plate 82 andthe shear rod 83. It will be obvious from inspection of Figures 6 and 15that when the shear pins are broken the driving shaft 82 will rotate inthe end of the collar 81 without imparting its rotation to the drivenshaft 29. In order to maintain the collars 81 and 87 in contact witheach other, the shear pin 83 is arranged at an angle in order to contactwith the lug 88 in such manner as to cause the collar 87 to be heldagainst the collar 81.

The driving shaft 82 extends across the rails 89 and 90 which are heldparallel to each otherand spaced apart by a channel iron standard 91terminating in a base plate adapted to be secured to the floor orplatform on which the automatic brick machine is mounted. Suitablebraces 92 and 93 connect the standard 91 to the horizontal rails 89 and90 respectively. The other ends of the rails 89 and 90 are secured toeach other and spaced apart by a plate 94; and a bearing 95 of the usualsplit type is suspended from said end by bolts 96 in order to embracethe shaft 97 on which the bumper cam 98 of the automatic brick machineis secured.

The shaft, 97 has a sprocket wheel 99 fixed thereon and a chain 100extends around the sprocket wheel 99 and around a. second sprocket wheel1'01 fixed to a shaft 102 jour-.

naled in suitable bearings 103 and 104 suit= ably secured to the rails89 and 90 respec tively. The driving shaft 82 extends through a thirdsprocket wheel 105- in mesh also with the chain 100; and this shaft 82is mounted in bearings 106 and 107 fixed in position by any suitablemeans on, the rails 89 and 90.

In order to take up slack in the chain 100 the plates 108 and 109 bywhichthe bearings 103 and 104 are secured to the rails 89 and 90 areprovided with slots .110 and 111 through which extends the clampingbolts 112 and 113 for clamping the said plates and bearings in theposition necessary to maintain the chain 100 in proper drivingconnection with the several sprocket wheels.

Referring now to Figures 6 and 7 in connection with the description ofthe trip mecha-nism for operating the trip plate 59, we have the shaft29 extending through the bearing 35 to receive fixedly the trip disc 67.The disc 67 is provided with an annular flange 114 machined to form aninternal gear 115 in mesh with a pair of spur gears 116 and'117rotatably mounted on bolts118 and 119 arranged parallel to each otherandto the shaft 29 in the bearing 35. A pinion 120 is suitably fixed to thedriving shaft 29 and meshes with the spur gears 116 and 117 to drive thetrip disc 67 on the shaft 29, the same trip disc being held againstaxial movement on the shaft 29 by means of the nut 121.

The trip disc 67 has a lug 122 extending radial y therefrom and thepin66 is extended inwardly from the lug 122 in order to contact with thepin 65 on the trip lever 63. The length of the trip pin 65 will ofcourse determine the period of time during which the trip plate 59 is inthe trip position shown in Figure 9 of the drawings.

lVhile I have shown and described the pallet feeding mechanism as beingoperated by the bumper shaft of the automatic brick machine, it mustbeunderstood that this is for the purpose of illustration only, since thefeeding mechanism may be operated from any suitable rotating member ofthe automatic brick machine providing the several elements of thefeeding mechanism are so proportioned and timed with the mechanism ofthe brick machine that the pallet may be dropped on a fi led mould onlywhen the mould is in a position of rest immediately below the right handend of the pallet feeding mechanismand a pallet is positioned againstthe stop plate 58. I With this pallet feeding mechanism, it will beobvious that a single operator may attend to the positioning of thepallet and the accuracy of placing the pallet upon filled mou ds iseffected wholly automatically by the feeding mechanism. The operator mayplace an empty pallet where along the skids 23 and 24, and the pusherdevice coming around on the chain 25 will. contact with one end of saidpallet and move it along to the gravity conveyor, whence it proceedsuntil it contacts with the stop pl ate 58 and one of its long edgesdrops on to the trip plate 59. At the instant when a filled mould isimmediately below the pallet, the trip mechanism is operated to drop thepallet directly on top of a mould.

The pallet is delivered to the mould innuediat-ely after it has beenbumped and has come to rest, just prior to its entering the moulddumping mechanism. With the pres ent system of placing pallets the mouldand pallet pass on to the dumper together; whereas in the old type ofmachine the pallet was placed on pallet receiving fingers and thecontents of the mould were dumped upon the stationary pallet. With thepresent invention the pallet feeder simply deposits the empty pallet onthe moulds of brick, instead of the operator placing the pallet on thepallet finger. The palet is merely delivered a little earlier in thecycle of operation of the automatic brick machine, and is delivered tothe mould itself andnot to separate linger mechanism, but the operationof the automatic brick machine is not otherwise affected in any Way.

While I have shown my invention as embodying in a specific form ofconstruction, it must be understood that the invention is not to beconsidered as limited in any way to this particular construction, nor inany other way except as may be imposed thereon by the scope of theclaims appended hereto.

WVhat I claim is:

1. The combination with an automatic brick machine having brick moldsmovable intermittently in a fixed direction to a predetermined positionof rest in said machine, of a guideway extending across said machine andtransversely of the direction of movement of said mold, means in saidguideway for moving a pallet from one end thereof to a predeterminedposition in said guideway, and means for releasing a pallet from saidpredetermined position'in the guideway on to a mold immediately beneathit in the position of rest. 7

2. The combination of an automatic brick machine having brick moldsmovable intermittently toward a predetermined position of rest in saidmachine, of a frame having parallel side flanges and extending over saidmachine to guide a pallet from one end of said frame to the other, anadjustable stop at one end of said frame, means for moving a pallet fromthe end of said frame opposite said stop into contact with said stop andmeans for dropping said pallet through said frame when the pallet is incont-act with said stop on to' a mold in position of rest below saidframe.

3. A combination of an automatic brick machine having brick moldsmovable intermittently to a position of rest in said machine,

of a guide frame connected to said machine to guide a pallet intoposition immediately over a mold in said predetermined position of rest,an adjustable stop at one end of said frame, and means operativelyconnected to said machine for-moving a pallet along said frame intocontact with said stop and for dropping a pallet from its contactposition with said stop on to a mold in its predetermined position ofrest in said machine.

4. The combination with an automatic brick machine having brick moldsmovable intermittently toward a predetermined position of rest in saidmachine, of a standard arranged at one side of said machine, a guideframe pivotally connected between its ends to the upper end of saidstandard, means for angularly adjusting said frame on said stand-' ard,and adjustable means for raising and lowering the other end of saidframe relative to said brick machine.

5. The combination with an automatic brick machine having brick moldsmovable intermittently toward a predetermined position of rest in saidmachine, of a standard arranged at one side of said machine, a guideframe pivotally connected between its ends to the upper end of saidstandard, means connecting one end of said frame to the framework ofsaid brick machine and adjustable to vary the inclination of said guideframe on said standard and relative to the horizontal, means forclamping said guide frame in adjusted position on said standard, meansfor clamping the end of said frame in adjusted position relative to saidbrick machine and means for feeding a pallet from one end of said frameto a predetermined position at the other end and operable by said brickmachine to place a pallet upon a mold in the predetermined position ofrest in said machine.

6. A pallet feeding attachment for automatic brick machines comprising asupport,

a guideway mounted on said support and means for moving a pallet fromone end of said guideway to a predetermined position at the other endthereof.

7. A pallet feeding attachment for automatic brick machines comprising asupport, a"

guideway pivotally mounted on said support and having skids at one endthereof adapted to receive a pallet, a conveyor extending from saidskids toward the other end of said guideway, and means for moving thepallet from said skids on to said conveyor.

8. A pallet feeding attachment for automatic brick machines comprising astandard, a troughlike frame pivoted to the upper end of said standardand extending substantially horizontally therefrom, means connected tosaid standard and frame for adjusting said frame into difierentpositions of inclination relative to the horizontal, a pair of skidsarranged in said frame near one end thereof and adapted to receive apallet, a roller conveyor extending from the ends of said skids towardthe other end of said framework, and means for movinga pallet from saidskids on to said conveyor. r

9. A pallet feeding attachment for automatic brick machines comprising atroughlike frame adapted to receive and guide pallets, a support towhich said frameis pivotally connected, means for adjustably securingsaid frame in different angular positions relative to said support, apair of skids in said frame, an endless conveyor belt movable betweensaid skids, a pair of conveyors at one end of said frame, a conveyorextending from one of said pair of conveyors toward the said other endof the frame and a trip plate rotatably mounted in said frame oppositethe last named conveyor. p

' 10. A pallet feeding attachment for automatic brick machinescomprising a frame having parallel side flanges adapted to guide apallet from one end of said frame to the other, an adjustable stop atone end of said frame, means'for moving a pallet from the end of saidframe opposite said stop into contact with said stop, and means fordropping said pallet through said frame when the pallet is in contactwith said stop.

11. In combination with an automatic brick machine having molds movableintermittently in a fixed direction to a predetermined position of restin said machine, a pallet supporting frame extending over said molds,and means on said frame and operably connected to said machine toeffectmovement of said pallet from said frame on to amold in position of restbelow said frame.

12. In combination with an automatic brick machine having molds movableintermittently and fixed direction to a predetermined position of restin said machine, a pallet supporting'frame extending over said machineand transversely of the path of movementof said molds, a conveyor forconducting pallets to a predetermined position in said frame, and meansoperable in timed relation to said machine for effecting movement of apallet from said frame to a'mold in I position of rest below said frame.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

CHARLES E. WALKER.

